HOUSTON - Switzerland-based ABB Ltd. is expanding in Houston with new facilities and employee growth.

The company opened its new ABB Robotics Support, Training and Demo Center in Houston and will soon open a new Automation and Power Center of Excellence and a new Analytical Systems Integration Factory.

The energy and power technology giant also plans to add about 50 jobs to its more than 600 Houston-area positions, which includes its Ventyx software and Baldor Electric Co. subsidiaries.

ABB's new robotics facility is in northwestern Houston at 7210 Empire Central Dr. ABB has leased a 40,000-sf facility at 6820 Willowbrook Park for its analytical integration factory.

The Automation and Power Center is being built into the first floor of ABB's main Westchase office space to display ABB technology and equipment as an unofficial storefront.

While ABB only had a small U.S. presence until recent years, the company counts 140,000 global employees. ABB has grown from 11,500 North American employees to 26,300 workers in the last four years.